Tag Archives: November in DC

October 21, 2018 · 7:02 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: October 22-26

See the inner workings of Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park

Monday – Enjoy the great fall weather at River Farm. The American Horticulture Society’s headquarters overlooking the Potomac River in Alexandria are as lovely as they are fun. The kids will love playing in the delightful Children’s Garden, and you’ll all love exploring the grounds. Hours are 9am – 5pm. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Tuesday – Celebrate Spain through storytelling at Capitol View Interim Library. The free session begins at 10:30am and is best for ages 2-5. It’s part of the Kids Euro Festival, a wonderful program from the EU Delegation to the US that brings two weeks of free art & cultural adventures to DC. See what else is on the schedule this week here.

Wednesday – Catch a performance of Blue at Imagination Stage. Recommended for ages 1-5, showtime is 10:30am, and tickets are $12.

Thursday – Take kiddos to Cox Farms for their Fall Festival! It’ll be a great place to spend the DCPS day off from school and enjoy TONS of autumn fun! Hours are 10am – 6pm, and admission is $10.

Friday – Head to Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park for As the Wheel Turns, a program where guests of all ages can learn about the power of water and its connection to food on a mill tour. Drop in from 10am – 4pm. Admission is free. Read about a KFDC adventure at Peirce Mill.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: October 15-19

Interact with New Nature at ARTECHOUSE

Monday – Rise + Rhyme at Busboys and Poets. The weekly series welcomes children 5 and under with their caregivers to enjoy a morning of performances and stories from 9:30-11am. Go to one of three locations: Brookland in DC or Takoma Park or Hyattsville in MD. Admission is $5. Plan on breakfast, too — full service will be available while the little ones are grooving.

Tuesday – Experience New Nature, the current digital exhibit at ARTECHOUSE. The installation is a “colorful digital menagerie of nature-inspired creatures and plant life,” and it’s full of stunning imagery and interactives that will delight all ages. Family-friendly hours are 10am – 5pm (21+ 5:30-10:30pm), and admission is timed entry. Tickets are $15/adult, $8/child.

Later on, join Living Classrooms for their Watch and Learn Birding Series at Kingman and Heritage Island, where they observe feathered friends and host a book reading or hands-on activity. This week the topic is Bird Beak, and you’ll observe bird feeding habits and learn how different bird beaks are adapted to eating different foods. Read more about Kingman and Heritage Island here.

Wednesday – Enjoy the fantastic fall weather at Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria. As you hike the woods and wetlands, look for little creatures — turtles, frogs, fish, and birds are practically guaranteed wildlife sightings. Take in sweeping vistas of the marshland, which should include tinges of autumn foliage now. And be sure to stop in the Visitors Center, where there are several interactive exhibits about the surrounding environment. Open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is free.

Thursday – Go ice skating! The outdoor rink at Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring has opened for the season. They have skate sizes ranging from toddler 7 to adult 14, plus push penguins for newbies, so little ones can get gliding, too. Hours are 12-10pm Monday – Thursday (10am–12am Friday – Saturday, 10am–10pm Sunday). Admission is $9/age 13+, $8/12 & under, $5/skate rental.

Friday – Roam the beautiful grounds and explore the cathedral of the Franciscan Monastery in Brookland. A DC “secret” to many, the site welcomes visitors to stroll through the gardens and tour the church. Hours are 9am – 4:45pm. Admission is free.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: October 8-12

Explore a viking ship at The Wharf!

Monday – Take a tour of the Draken Harald Hårfagre, the world’s largest Norwegian Viking ship, that will be docked at The Wharf through October 15 as part of its Expedition America. You’ll be guided around the deck and offered a look at a day-in-the-life of the crew and the historic craftsmanship used to build it. Admission is $12/adult, $6/child, $30/family — look for a deal before you go. Timed entry tours start at 10:30am and are offered every 30 minutes until 7pm. And they only take about 20-25 minutes, so plan to hang out longer at The Wharf — there is even more for all ages to enjoy there!

Tuesday – Go for a walk in the woods and explore the grounds of Woodend Nature Sanctuary in Chevy Chase, MD. The home of the Audubon Naturalist Society is perfect for hiking with little ones. The trails are mellow, there are several small exhibits like bird feeding areas, and wildlife sightings are practically guaranteed. Open dawn to dusk. Admission is free.

Wednesday – Join a class especially for preschoolers (ages 2-5) at Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, where they discover a world of adventure through make believe, art projects, and imaginative play. During this three-session Spectacular Statues-themed series, look for animals and other fanciful creatures in the sculptures throughout the gardens. The whole series is $30 per child with one accompanying adult ($25 member; $18 additional adults), or you can pay $12 per class ($10/members). Classes are 10:30-11:15am on October 10, 17, and 24.

Thursday – Play, learn, and discover at the National Museum of American History. Take little ones to Wegmans Wonderplace, the activity center designed especially for ages 0-6 years old — it’s full of fun and interesting features that cater to curious young visitors. If you’re with older kids, go to the Spark!Lab right next door. Of course, the rest of the museum is great to explore, too! Hours at Wegmans Wonderplace and Spark!Lab are 10am – 4pm, and free admission is on a first come, first served basis. Museum hours are 10am – 5:30pm.

Friday – Embrace the season at a fall festival! Weekdays are a great time to go, when crowds thin out, and admission prices are often lower. Take a hayride, pick out a pumpkin, PYO apples, jump and slide, visit farm animals, and lots more. This post has details on farms around the area offering seasonal fun.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: March 5-9

Stop by the stables at Rock Creek Horse Center

Monday – Bundle up the kids for some active fun amid the lovely woodsy setting of Cabin John Regional Park. Kids can climb, swing, jump, slide, and run on the sprawling playground. The Miniature Train isn’t open right now, but the playground alone has plenty to keep children happy. Bring along food for a picnic — several tables are right there, or you can spread out a blanket in a nearby grassy area. Admission is free.

Tuesday – Experiment with hands-on fun at the Children’s Science Center Lab at Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax. Kids of all ages can explore a variety of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts through fun, engaging interactive exhibits and activities. Hours are 10am – 6pm. Admission is $13 (under 2 are free).

Wednesday – Head to the Hirshhorn for their STORYTIME program for little ones. In this session, museum staff and guests will look closely at the work Five Day Forecast by Lorna Simpson, then examine their unique features through a read-alound of the book Why am I me? by Paige Britt. Following the story, play with shapes, lines, and colors to create self-portraits. Of course, plan to stay after to explore the museum!

Thursday – Learn about the area’s wildlife, enjoy hands-on activities in the Nature Center, take a hike, and visit horses at Rock Creek Park. The Nature Center is open Wednesday – Sunday, 9am – 5pm, and admission is free. There are nearby trails for walks in the woods. You can also visit the equine residents at the nearby Horse Center. (Pony rides are not offered on weekdays this time of year, but guests are welcome to stop by the stables.)

Friday – Reach new heights of fun at ClimbZone. Kids and adults will have a blast scaling the many colorful, whimsically-themed walls at the indoor climbing center in Laurel, MD. Hours are 10am – 9pm (10am – 8pm other weekdays). Admission is $25/ages 6 and up, $12/5 and under for a three-hour session.

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Filed under 2018, All ages, Animals, Art, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Free, Indoor Play, Maryland, Museums, Nature, Outdoor, Park, Playground, Story Time, Virginia, Weekdays, Winter

Tagged as Best Ideas for Activities with Kids in Washington DC, DC Adventures, DC Kids Activities, DC outdoors, DC Weekday Activities with Kids, DC with kids, DMV Children, Family Fun, Free Things to do in Washington DC, Fun Things to do with Kids in the Washington DC Area, Fun with Kids in Maryland, Fun with Kids in Northern Virginia, Kid Friendly Adventures in DC, November in DC, Weekdays February March 5-9, Winter 2018

February 25, 2018 · 6:02 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: February 26 – March 2

The Air & Space Museum is filled literally floor to ceiling with impressive exhibits

Monday – View amazing artifacts of aviation and space, discover How Things Fly, take a virtual journey among the stars, see a planetarium show, and much more at the National Air & Space Museum on the National Mall. There’s good reason why it’s one of the most popular of the Smithsonian museums (and in the world)! Hours are 10am – 5:30pm. Admission is free, though there are fees to ride flight simulators ($7-12) and see IMAX movies ($9/adult, $7.50 child).

Tuesday – Explore and play, indoors and out, at Potomac Overlook Regional Park in Arlington. Hike the short trails and let the kids romp on the playground. Then visit the nature center where you can see turtles, snakes, and other creatures and learn about the area’s natural environment. Hours are 10am – 5pm, Tuesday – Sunday. Admission is free. (UPDATE: A KFDC reader let me know that the Nature Center might be closed for renovations, though the outdoors there are wonderful and worth the trip. However, you can go to Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington if you’re keen on seeing indoor exhibits, too.)

In the evening, attend a fundraiser to support the victims and families of the Marjory Stoneman Souglas school shootings at Tony & Joe’s in Georgetown. The event runs 6-8pm, and admission is a suggested donation of $20.

Wednesday – Catch a performance of Inside Out at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street NE. The interactive show for ages 0-5 is also part of the annual INTERSECTIONS Festival. Showtime is 10am, and tickets are $12. Plan to grab lunch at one of many nearby eateries after.

Thursday – Feel like you’re outdoors no matter what the weather at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Walk amid tropical rainforest, desert, and woodland flora, and see the beautiful collection of orchids in the annual show. If it’s a nice day, take a stroll through the National Garden outside, too. Hours are 10am – 5pm. Admission is free. Read more about the USBG here and here. Hours are 10am – 5pm. Admission is free.

Friday – Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday! There are all kinds of reading-related activities going on in honor of the beloved children’s book author. Barnes & Noble locations are hosting celebrations. And many local libraries have Seuss-themed activities for kids — this early KFDC post has links to public libraries around the area to help you find a nearby event.